One of the year s more unu- sual homes built in the Chicago area is one designed specifical- ly for the collector. Called the the Capsule Gallery by its de- signer, Paul MacAlister, the house is intended to give the inveterate collector an oppor-

tunity to display his collections so they have daily meaning to the family.

MacAlister, an interior dec- who has collected art objects, curios, and historical pieces from thruout the world, believes people should livewith their hobbies. In his Capsule Gallery, members of the fami- ly and their friends can enjoy their collections. Hundreds of interesting pieces can serve as conversation pieces.

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MacAlister determined that this home should have new ideas in materials, decorative motif, and furnishings. Some 40 manufacturers cooperated with him in the selection of new con- cepts in their fields to put into the house. His ideas were translated into blueprints by Donald and Verner Mahan, Chi- cago architects. Assisting with interior design and decoration was Flolydia Etting, I. D. S. A. of Paul MacAlister & Associ- ates.

The house exterior was of early concern in the design, as the hobbyist-collector wanted a new, contemporary siding with

top appearance, long life, and easy maintenance. He selected Masonite C o l o r I o k X-ninety lap siding, which has a 10-year guarantee on the plastic paint- ed surface and a 25-year hail damage guarantee on - board base material.

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He chose shell white as the color, because the shadows cast by the overlap are in con- trast. No nails show.

As the backdrop for his col- lections, MacAlister chose an- other M a s o n i t e corporation product called Marbletone, a prefinished hardboard with a textured surface.

Inspired by travertine mar- ble, these panels have an egg- shell surface color that pro- vides a contrast with the gray in the random fissures. The panels offer a hard, dense, easy-to-maintain surface. Ver- tical lines for accents in the pattern fall at the joints.

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Most of the interior walls are covered with the textured hard- board. This material was used also for door surfaces and ped- for the display of art objects. It is found on cabinet doors, on the sides and backs of room dividers and elsewhere.

The camera fan has niche for color slide sorting and pro- jection equipment, an attrac- tive part of the living room wall. Recessed lighted display

Books, art objects, a television set, and other items are displayed on this divider of Masonite Marbletone.

cases along the entrance gal- lery exhibit model rooms or col- lections of coins and stamps.

MacAlister is convinced that future generations must devel- op suitable hobbies to relieve the tensions of modem living. He asserts that the atmosphere of the must not only be modern but harmonious and stimulating.

On bookshelves, he inter- books with clear plas-

tic cases for the more precious objects. Rare books rub shoul- ders with new books in color- ful slipcases.

The large window expanse in the living room and hallways presented a drapery problem. MacAllister used a new win- dow treatment that allows only soft, diffused light to enter the room, filtering out the - let rays which cause fading and the hot infrared rays of the sun.

MacAlister, past president of the Industiral Designers insti- tute and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, has hobbies which have taken him into many corners of the world. He has one of the largest collec- tions of the American eagle in art form, in addition to collec- tions of miniature furniture and cabinet tools.

Eye-level display cases, lighted from above, make possible full use of the hobbyist s collections and his ingenuity with little dioramas. Cabinets of Masonite Marbletone complement the floor pattern.

Color slide editor and storage unit in Capsule Gallery. Some 150 slides can be edited simultaneously and 3,800 can be stored. Sliding doors at the bottom are of Marlite.